No matter where they live, Minnesotans have a vested interest in the suburban legislative races that will help decide who’s in power at the Capitol.

Our focus is on those races in the east metro area — both open seats and contests considered competitive — that could determine whether divided government remains in Minnesota.

That was the choice Minnesotans made in 2014 when they put Republicans in control in the House and re-elected Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton. They gave Democrats the Senate majority in 2012.

On these pages, we’ve staked out a position as an advocate of divided government. In our American system of checks and balances, we believe in competition. We’ve observed that political maneuvering is part of the process that helps us figure things out, and that standoffs and deadlocks can be useful parts of that process.

The Pioneer Press’ Bill Salisbury observed earlier this month that Democrats would need to pick up seven House seats to regain control of that chamber, while Republicans would need to flip six Senate seats to take the majority there.

Today, we consider with three state House of Representative seats in Dakota County and one in the Senate that also stretches into Goodhue County:

In House District 56B in Burnsville and Lakeville, fortunate voters have a choice between two strong candidates. In a tough decision, our endorsement goes to Republican Roz Peterson.

Peterson, who unseated Democrat Will Morgan in 2014 — after losing to him by just 170 votes in 2012 — is a commercial real estate agent with an approach at the Capitol that emphasizes tax relief and prudent spending of taxpayer dollars. She is a former Lakeville School Board chair and small-business owner.

Democrat Lindsey Port, a thoughtful first-time candidate, also brings a small-business perspective, but a different one.

Peterson insists that it’s not government’s responsibility to put mandates on private businesses.

Port, who owns and runs a small business in Burnsville with her husband, says on her website that she is “proud that we invest in our employees with paid sick time, a needed benefit that too many working families of our district do not yet have access to.”

Their contest is an expensive one. By the end of last month, outside groups had spent more than $200,000 on the race, making it one of the 10 most expensive in the state, the Pioneer Press’ Rachel Stassen-Berger reported.

Any resulting tension between them wasn’t evident during their joint conversation with the editorial board. They agree that the seat will be won “at the door” as they connect with residents.

In House District 57A in Apple Valley and Lakeville, we endorse Democrat Erin Maye Quade, an energetic and articulate candidate in the race for the open seat held by Rep. Tara Mack, a Republican not seeking re-election.

Maye Quade, who grew up in Apple Valley, describes the district as one that’s “purple,” rather that red or blue, and a place with a “strong sense of values, regardless of party.”

She talks about “policy driven by people, not partisanship” and observes that — in a divisive political year — much of the rhetoric disappears at the doorstep in conversations with her neighbors.

Maye Quade, a staff member for Rep. Keith Ellison and a veteran of campaigns for other Democrats — recognizes that we “can’t have all things” and that we “do better when we compromise.”

We talked about removing barriers for small businesses and her drive to create an economy that “works for everyone.” Among steps to address inequality in Minnesota, she supports Equity Impact Statements on every piece of legislation, to “make sure that the bills we pass lift up all Minnesotans.”

Her Republican opponent, Ali Jimenez-Hopper, stresses willingness to work across party lines. “A good idea is a good idea wherever it comes from,” she told us.

For now, lines are drawn: Jimenez-Hopper has been criticized for a nominating-convention speech in which she appealed to conservative values, noting her opponent’s marriage to a woman and biracial family background. Maye Quade has faced scrutiny from conservative activists that focuses on her social media posts.

In House District 57B in Apple Valley, Coates and Rosemount, we favor the return of incumbent Republican Rep. Anna Wills to the House for a third term. Her opponent is Democrat John Huot, a real estate agent from Rosemount.

Wills has honed her message since we first met her as a candidate in 2012. She emphasizes support for jobs and the economy by reducing tax and regulatory burdens, and is concerned about transportation infrastructure and fair and effective funding for district schools. As a lawmaker, she told us, she is committed to weighing each issue that comes before her on its merits.

Wills, who worked previously as a Senate staff member, claims the distinction of being the first home-school graduate to be elected to the Legislature.

When it comes to health care, Huot speaks from firsthand experience. He worked as an emergency medical technician and in other roles, including government relations manager, with a nonprofit providing air and ground transportation for patients.

Earlier this month, mailers from Republican sources made an issue of tax liens against Huot. He said in a Pioneer Press report that they resulted from a failed small business and that he has paid what he owes and takes responsibility for the matter.

In Senate District 58, where Lakeville and Farmington are the largest cities, we recommend Democrat Matt Little in the race for an open seat held by Republican Sen. Dave Thompson, who did not seek re-election.

We had a lively conversation with Little, Lakeville’s 31-year-old two-term mayor, and Republican challenger Tim Pitcher, a Farmington City Council member.

It reinforced our thinking that the recent talk about equity applies in a business sense, as well as more broadly in society. Ability to succeed should not depend on “who you know” in the government bureaucracy. Little gets that. His point about just how hard it is to start a small business in Minnesota: the guide to doing so from the state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development totals more than 350 pages.

Little’s community, blessed with a transportation connection on the I-35 corridor, is growing fast. Innovations he describes to support the growth include a “fast-track” policy under which companies can request a special city meeting to speed up or keep their projects moving forward.

Little also told us about setting out to change the culture at City Hall, building trust and transparency. He considers running unopposed in his mayoral re-election bid in 2014 an indicator of his ability to bring people together.

We appreciate Pitcher’s limited-government perspective and experience in a more than 30-year career in medical and defense engineering. It equipped him to focus on getting things done and work effectively with others, he said, and to find “the best path forward.”

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